lunator
sage
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 231
Loc: London
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I finally got a really good view last Wednesday (12th).
Ive been following the Machholz since mid-Deember but living in London means average views at best..
I was lucky last weekend The clouds broke for 2 minutes and I managed to get a view of the comet and M45 together.
On the 12th I was at a sales conference in rural Oxfordshire and I took my Binos (just in case) The sky was beautifully clear and very dark and the comet was a naked eye object and in the Binos was a fantastic image.
As an extra thought that sky made me remeber how beautiful the night sky is. I usually go out observing for a specific target but I will now get away from my light polluted sky to darker sites and just enjoy the view more often
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I found it fairly easily, but it did not look like expected.
In my cannon 15x50, highly urbanized streets, it looked like a fluffy, soft, opaque cotton ball. Almost like m51 in my Nexstar.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi all - Where I live with moderate light pollution I have not been able to see the comet at all unaided. Through 12x50 binos there does seem to have been some noticeable change in shape over the last 10 days or so - I have been lucky enough to be able to make some sort of observation most nights despite clouds and haze during the day. The attached image was one of my first attempts at imaging a comet and I was pleased that the tail was faintly but clearly vivible. Set up was Canon Digital Rebel at prime focus on 120mm f5 refractor; single 30 second exposure with some tone curve adjustment and red channel reduction in Photopaint.
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 3545
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Nice pic, Richard. I can see the ion tail at 10 o'clock and the beginning of the dust tail at about 7-8 o'clock. 
Got a break in the clouds tonight (17 Jan) and braved the cold (6degF/-14C) temps for a quick look at Q2 Machholz with the 10x50 binocs. At 7:10PM EST (0010UT/18 Jan) the comet was at an altitude of ~80deg and was ~2.5deg NNE of Algol (Perseus). Even with the 1st quarter Moon, it appeared fairly bright with a large (~20') irregularly shaped coma and a brighter inner coma. No stellar core was visible.
With the old reputation of yore that comets are the foretellers of disaster, I tried not to cringe as the comet shared the field of view with the Eye of Medusa. 
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 2065
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Bill, you need to get out and look at Machholz in the next couple of nights as is passes through Perseus!! I got a nice view of it tonight (19 Jan, 9:00 pm MT). While I'm still working on technique, the attached sketch shows a pretty good idea of what I could see from my back yard here in Cheyenne. I expect by tomorrow or Friday it should be in thick of the main star field. Can't wait (of course, this means I've now doomed myself to overcast for the next week...).
Clear Skies.
Steve (aka molniyabeer)
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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molniyabeer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 2065
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Let's try that sketch again...
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Bill Grass
Prince Regent
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 11652
Loc: Denham Springs, LA
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Cool, Steve! Nice sketch. I'm clouded in right now. Hopefully this weekend will be better...
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3126
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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I created a mosaic of of Comet Machholz and the Pleiades (M45) on January 11, 2005 at 06:00 U.T. using my 7 x 50 binoculars. The pair was separated by approximately 7.5 degrees (or a little larger than the field of my binoculars (7.1 degrees)). I hope that you all like the final product. I welcome any comments on it.
The best of luck in your observations and imaging of this interesting comet.
Regards,
Carlos E. Hernandez
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Edited by Bill Grass (01/21/05 08:56 AM)
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Jure
sage
Reged: 06/14/03
Posts: 411
Loc: Plavje, Slovenia
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That is an absolutely amazing drawing! Were you not able to see any tail? On a more technical side - how do you rate your observing conditions for extended nebulous objects? What does in this case Seeing mean?
For my comet observations (http://astro.ago.uni-lj.si/icq_data.html) I mostly use naked eye LM and Bortle class rating.
I had an excellent view of the comet on Jan 11, under very clear and dark skies with LM7.2: I observed with 15x80B and naked eye. In binoculars there was over 4 degrees of tail visible, and when I swung over to Pleiades, the entire cluster was enveloped in nebulosity. It was easy to make out the shape of the nebula around Merope and around other brighter stars. It almost looked like a photo! Your splendid drawing brings back the memory. Thank you!
Clear skies!
Jure
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Celestron CR150HD
10x50, 11x70 binoculars
Nikon D80
MBK Team http://www.orion-drustvo.si/MBKTeam
Slovenian ICQ comet report page
http://astro.ago.uni-lj.si/icq_data.html
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Carol L
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 5880
Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W
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 Absolutely stunning Carlos, welcome to CN!
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 *Step-by-Step Lunar Sketching*
CN Gallery
Photo Gallery
8"SCT ~ 120achro ~ 90Mak ~ 80ST ~ 11x70s ~ 22x100s
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CarlosEH
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 3126
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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Jure,
Thank you for the compliment on my observation of Comet Machholz. I have observed the pencil-thin tail only once in my light polluted skies. I am estimating the magnitude of the comet based upon it's core (nucleus and inner coma). This is not perfect but gives an approximate magnitude.
Carol,
Thank you for the compliment on my observation of Comet Machholz. I have visited your web site and found it to very informative and full of outstanding images. I am also starting to observe the Moon after a long hiatus. I will post my observations in the Lunar Observing forum soon.
Regards,
Carlos
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djeber2
sage
Reged: 07/02/04
Posts: 493
Loc: Ohio
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Got in a quick observation of the comet tonight. Braved the -5 degree wind chill. Used my 90mm short tube refractor and new, cheapo 8x42 binoculars. Comet still very easily visible despite the nearly full moon.
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Don
1 Dob: Hardin DSH10
4 Small scopes: Celestron ED80, Meade 114NT/500 4.5", Orion 102 Mak, Orion 100mm Astroview
2 Classic Scopes: 4.25" Edmunds reflector, Sears 60mm Discovery
4 Binoculars: 15x70 Celestron skymaster, 10x42 Celestron Regal, 8x40 Nikon Action, 10x50 Orion Binoculars
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 3545
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Hi Everyone,
We're having arctic conditions here in the Appalachian Mts and the Moon is at Day 14.5 but I went outside tonight briefly for a look at Q2 Machholz. It's still bright enough to see through binoculars with a Moon practically full.
8:00PM EST 24 Jan 05 (0100UT 25 Jan 05)
10x50 binocs Alt. ~80deg
Temp. 22degF Wind moderate (wind chill 5degF) Intermittent clouds
Q2 Machholz appeared as a large (~20') bright fuzzball about 1deg NE of gamma Persei. No tail was visible. The inner coma was slightly brighter than the outer coma. No stellar nucleus was noted.
The comet passes within ~4 degrees of the Double Cluster on 27 Jan.
Regards to all,
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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Carol L
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 5880
Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W
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Quote:
Carol,
Thank you for the compliment on my observation of Comet Machholz. I have visited your web site and found it to very informative and full of outstanding images. I am also starting to observe the Moon after a long hiatus. I will post my observations in the Lunar Observing forum soon.
Regards,
Carlos
You're welcome Carlos, and thank you for your kind words. 
We're looking forward to seeing you in the Lunie Bin. 
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*Step-by-Step Lunar Sketching*
CN Gallery
Photo Gallery
8"SCT ~ 120achro ~ 90Mak ~ 80ST ~ 11x70s ~ 22x100s
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djeber2
sage
Reged: 07/02/04
Posts: 493
Loc: Ohio
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Carol, great website and photos!!!
I was able to get out and observe the comet and other winter DSOs tonight with the Dob for a short while before the clouds rolled back in. The nearly full moon does not seem to interfear with observing the comet, at least from my suburban location, as much as the moonlight interfears with other DSO.
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Don
1 Dob: Hardin DSH10
4 Small scopes: Celestron ED80, Meade 114NT/500 4.5", Orion 102 Mak, Orion 100mm Astroview
2 Classic Scopes: 4.25" Edmunds reflector, Sears 60mm Discovery
4 Binoculars: 15x70 Celestron skymaster, 10x42 Celestron Regal, 8x40 Nikon Action, 10x50 Orion Binoculars
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 3545
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Hi,
I've been tracking Comet Machholz as it travels through the constellation Perseus and was treated to a fine view tonight (25 Jan) just before moonrise. The comet is ~2deg NNW of gamma Persei.
Machholz appeared to be inside a triangle of stars formed by gamma, eta, and kappa Persei. It was a large, bright fuzzball with a slight elongation. I could see a large diffuse outer coma and a brighter inner coma but could not detect any stellar-like core. You can see the sketch here .
The comet was ~5deg west of the Double Cluster and I think it might get a little closer in the next couple of days.
Clear skies!
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 3545
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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I made an observation of C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) tonight, 1/27/05 at 8:00PM EST (0100UT 1/28/05), about an hour before the Moon rose over the mountain to my east.
The comet is high in the sky (about 80deg of altitude) and I used my 10x50 binoculars so I got comfortable by laying in a lounge chair. It was clear and cold (13deg F) with a light wind so seeing was average (5-6/10) and transparency was above average (5/6).
Since my last observation the comet has moved north of the triangle of stars made by gamma, eta, and kappa Persei. I believe it has crossed into the constellation Cassiopeia. It still appears as a large bright fuzzball with an elongation to the SE. The inner coma is brighter than the outer coma but I could not see a stellar nucleus.
Machholz is ~4deg SE of the Double Cluster (NGC869/884) and they all fit nicely into the 4.5deg FOV of my binocs. Comparing the coma to the size of the Double Cluster (each about 30 minutes of arc) and with the excellent transparency, I would estimate the diameter of the coma to be 25-30 arcminutes.
While I was observing the comet I noticed an open cluster about 2.5deg to the ENE. I believe the OC was Stock 23, an object I have never seen before.
CS,
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 6301
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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I had a peak at Comet Machholz on Thursday evening before moonrise using a Barska 15x70 binocular and the 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain at the ASH Naylor Observatory. I could distinctly see the dust tail and a hint of the ion tail.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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hi all , whats the best way to star hop to the comet?
can you still see it with the naked eye?
im finally gonna have a clear night tonight
thnx
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djeber2
sage
Reged: 07/02/04
Posts: 493
Loc: Ohio
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Quote:
hi all , whats the best way to star hop to the comet?
can you still see it with the naked eye?
im finally gonna have a clear night tonight
thnx
Ron, I just came in from observing the comet in binoculars. It is not naked eye from my location, but a very easy and obvious object in binoculars. Tonight it was located about 6 degrees NE of the double cluster. The S&T website has a good finder chart. Hope this helps.
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Don
1 Dob: Hardin DSH10
4 Small scopes: Celestron ED80, Meade 114NT/500 4.5", Orion 102 Mak, Orion 100mm Astroview
2 Classic Scopes: 4.25" Edmunds reflector, Sears 60mm Discovery
4 Binoculars: 15x70 Celestron skymaster, 10x42 Celestron Regal, 8x40 Nikon Action, 10x50 Orion Binoculars
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